Track assembly for toy and model railroads

ABSTRACT

A track assembly for toy and model railroads comprises a tie assembly and a ballast bed assembly separately produced by injection molding and fixedly joined by gluing, heat sealing or other suitable means. The rails are secured to the upper side of the tie assembly by formfitting engagement at the foot of each rail with grooves in the tie assembly.

United States Patent 1 Ewe et al. 5] Mar. 21, 1972 [54] TRACK ASSEMBLY FOR TOY AND 1,071,111 8/1913 Szuminski ....23s 304 MODEL RAILROADS 1,174,540 3/1916 Bean ....238/148 1,420,389 6/1922 Scott..... ....238/148 [721 lnvemors= ""8" Dennerleln; Heinrich 2,562,623 7/1951 Levering ..238/10 B P Numberg; 2,584,388 2/1952 Husband ..238/10 B mmhmele" Hellsbmnn; will 2,647,693 8/1953 Carver ..238/10 B Nurnberg, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Gebr. Fleischmann, Numberg, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4 852 356 8/1952 Germany ..238/10 B 22 F 1 d. l 24 1969 I 1 y 635,810 4/1950 Great 1311111111.. [21] Appl. No.: 844,256

Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch 30 F A Ii t P it D orelgn pp ca Ion "or y Attorney-Hana & Baxley Aug. 10, 1968 Germany. ..G 67 50 358 Nov. 15, 1968 Germany... ..G 68 07 028 [57] ABSTRACT Jan. 24, 1969 Germany ..G 69 02 692.2 Y t A track assembly for toy and model rallroads comprlses a he 52 us. c1 ..238/10 E, 46/1 assembly and a ballast bed assembly Separately Produced by 51 1111. c1. ..A63h 19 30 injection molding and fixedly joined y gluing, heat Sealing or [58] Field 61 Search 38/10, 121, 122, 123,146, other Suitable means- The rails are Secured to the pp Side of 238/306, 10 F, 10 E, 10 A, 10 D; 104/60; 46/1, 216 the tie assembly by formfitting engagement at the foot of each rail with grooves in the tie assembly. 56 f 't I 1 CI ed W... V. 10 l m 5 D win F ures 7.

UNITED STATliS PATENT A v WM 2,188,894 1/1940' Tyler B PATENTEDMARZI 1972 3,650 468 INVENTORS Gznmmo Ewa Huco Dsmvrflzen HI-znltcn Scumzrr Hour HIRI'CHMG'ZIA wIl-LI Ftcwrzn:

ATTORNEYS TRACK ASSEMBLY FOR TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS The invention relates to a track assembly for toy and model railroads and particularly to a track assembly formed by a tie assembly supporting the rails and a ballast bed assembly, both assemblies being made of a plastic material.

BACKGROUND There'are known track assemblies of the general kind above referred to, the ties and the ballast bed of which are formed of sheet metal as a unitary structure, the surface of the assemblies being suitably pressed and shaped to simulate an actual ballast bed consisting of broken stones and supporting the rail ties. It has been found that a close simulation of an actual ballast bed and actual ties cannot be readily obtained due to the inherent properties of the sheet metal used for the track assembly.

It is also known to provide a simulated ballast bed which consists of a strip of foam rubber or a plastic material and which has in its top side recesses for receiving therein the ties of the track system. A ballast bed constructed in this manner has good impact cushioning properties and is also capable of compensating for unevenness of the base upon which it is placed. However, it does not very well simulate the appearance of an actual ballast bed made of broken stones. Moreover, the manufacture of a ballast bed of this type is rather expensive.

THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved track assembly of the general kind above referred to which simulates the appearance of an actual ballast bed to a higher degree than was heretofore obtainable, can be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner and has use qualities superior to those of known track assemblies.

The afore pointed out objects, features and advantages of the invention and other objects, features and advantages which will be pointed out hereinafter are obtained by producing the tie assembly and the ballast bed assembly separately from each other from a plastic material by injection molding and securing the two assemblies to each other.

Many plastic materials suitable for the purpose are well known in the art and readily available in the market. Specifically, plastics produced by copolymerization of acrylnitrile, butadiene and styrol have been found to be particularly advantageous. Plastics of this kind are known as polystyrol, polyethylene, polyamide and also under the trademark NOVODUR.

A track assembly in accordance with the invention closely simulates an actual railroad track as is highly desirable for toy and model railroads. The manufacture of a track assembly comprising separately produced tie assemblies and ballast bed assemblies made of a plastic material is greatly simplified by the use of plastic material capable of being injection molded. Moreover, attachment of the two assemblies to each other can be very simply and economically effected. Plastic material capable of being injection molded are available within a wide range of mechanical properties of hardness and resiliency. Accordingly, materials most suitable for the purpose can be selected.

A track assembly of the general kind above referred to should not only visually simulate an actual ballast bed made of broken stones but should also be capable of compensating for unevenness in the supporting surface and it should also have cushioning capabilities. These requirements can be satisfied in a simple manner by making the tie assembly of a comparatively hard plastic while the ballast bed assembly is made of the same or similar plastic material but with lesser hardness. It is, of course, also possible to make both assemblies of material of equal hardness.

The attachment of the tie assembly and the ballast bed assembly to each other can be effected by an injection molding operation or by gluing or heat sealing. Heat sealing can be made in a conventional manner by the use of supersonic sound waves. Such mode of attachment has the advantage that the tie assembly is fastened to the ballast bed with sufficient mechanical strength but not completely rigid. Tests have shown that a somewhat flexible attachment results in a simple but yet highly effective damping of vibrations. If the two assemblies are to be joined by injection molding the tie assembly is first molded in an injection molding mold whereupon the plastic material from which the ballast bed is to be formed is injected on to a pre-formed tie assembly, after changing the mold if necessary.

The invention also contemplates to provide a layer of impact cushioning plastic material at least on the bottom side of the ballast bed. A thus cushioned track system is far superior to metal track systems as known or other track systems lacking a cushioning layer. They are further superior to track systems comprising a tie assembly made of plastic and secured to a separately produced ballast bed made of foamed plastic material.

It is further within the concept of the invention to improve the properties of the track system by a more reliable attachment of the rails to the tie assembly than is now available. According to the invention the upper side of the tie assembly is form-fitted in grooves in the bottom side of the rails. Such an arrangement retains the rails reliably on the tie assembly so that the rails cannot be pulled lengthwise out of their holders on the tie assembly.

Attachment of the rails to the tie assembly by an injection molding operation has the further advantage that cooling of the plastic material in the mold is accelerated by the high heat conduction of the metal of the rails.

Still another aspect of the invention resides in forming grooves in the bottom side of rails. These grooves can be crosswise or slanted with reference to the length of the rails. The grooves can also extend lengthwise and be interrupted by narrow bridges or webs. It is only essential that the plastic material extends from the tie assembly into the grooves in the rails so that the rails are also lengthwise secured on the tie assembly.

In the accompanying drawing several embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing: 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a tie assembly and a ballast bed assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a finished track assembly,

FIG. 3 is a similar cross section showing a modification of the track assembly,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tie assembly on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rail for the track system.

Referring now to the figures more in detail, two rails 1 generally made of metal are supported on a tie assembly 2 comprising a plurality of individual ties 4 joined by lengthwise bridges or webs 3. The tie assembly is made by injection molding of a plastic material, preferably of the kind previously referred to.

The tie assembly is supported on a ballast bed assembly 5 which for the purpose has in its top side recesses 6 for receiving therein the webs 3 and the ties 4 of tie assembly 2. The ballast bed assembly is preferably also made of plastic material by injection molding.

The surface configuration of the bed assembly is made to simulate the appearance of an actual ballast bed made of broken stones.

The two parts of the track assembly, namely, tie assembly 2 and ballast bed assembly 5, both made of plastic, are fixedly secured in the superimposed position shown in FIG. 2. Attachment of the assemblies to each other can be effected by gluing or heat sealing or by injection molding. The two assemblies can be secured to each other on the entire abutting areas or only at selected points.

According to FIG. 3 a layer 8 of an impact cushioning material such as a suitable comparatively soft plastic material is provided on the bottom side 7 of the ballast bed assembly 5. Thus layer 8 may be molded directly on assembly preferably by an injection molding operation.

As best shown in FIG. 2 the rails are retained on tie assembly 2 in mutually parallel position by lugs 9 provided on the tie assembly.

The bottom side 11 of the foot of each rail 1 rests upon the upper surface 12 of tie assembly 2. The bottom side 1 l includes a plurality of grooves which according to FIG. 5 may be crosswise as shown at 13 or at a slant relative to the length of the rails as shown at 14 or crosswise of the rails as shown at 15 or lengthwise of the rails as shown at 16 though interrupted by narrow bridges or webs 17.

When the material from which the tie assembly 20 is to be formed is injected into the mold and the rails are previously in-- serted into the mold, the injected material penetrates into the grooves at 13, l4, 15 or 16 and thus forms a strong junction between the tie assembly and the respective rail. As a result, lengthwise displacement of the rails by sliding of the bottom side 11 of the rails on the upper surface 12 of the tie assembly is reliably prevented.

What is claimed is: 1. A track assembly for toy and model railroads, said track assembly comprising in combination:

an elongate one-piece ballast bed assembly made of plastic and having a top surface including two spaced apart lengthwise parallel grooves extending the length of said ballast bed assembly, and a plurality of lengthwise spaced apart and parallel crosswise grooves intersecting and crossing said lengthwise grooves; an elongate one-piece tie assembly made of plastic. and including two spaced apart parallel lengthwise bars and a plurality of spaced apart parallel cross bars joined to said lengthwise bars intersecting and crossing the same the cross-sectional outlines of said lengthwise bars and said cross bars matching the cross-sectional outlines of said lengthwise grooves and said crosswise grooves, respectively, said tie assembly being fitted in said grooves, the crosswise bars of the tie assembly simulating track ties;

fastening means securing the tie assembly to the ballast bed assembly;

a pair of rails each having a foot, the upper side of the tie assembly including a plurality of recesses, the foot of each of said rails being form-fitted in said recesses, the bottom side of the foot of each rail including a plurality of grooves, said grooves being filled with plastic material extending from the upper side of the tie assembly into said rail grooves thereby securing the rails to the tie assembly; and

mounting means securing said rails to the bars of the tie assembly.

2. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises clamping means on the rails and the tie assembly in engagement with each other.

3. The track assembly according to claim 2 wherein said clamping means comprises an enlarged foot along the length of each rail and a plurality of pairs of lugs protruding from the tie assembly lengthwise spaced thereon, the two lugs of each of said pairs overlying the foot of one of the rails.

4. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein the plastic material of the ballast bed assembly is an impact cushioning material.

5. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said ballast bed assembly has a surface configuration representing a ballast bed formed by a conglomeration of stones.

6. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tie assembly and the ballast bed assembly are differently colored.

7. The track assembly according to claim 1 and comprising an impact cushioning layer adhered to the bottom side of the ballast bed assembly.

8. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rail grooves extend crosswise of the rails.

9. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rail grooves are slanted with reference to the length of the rails.

10. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said grooves extend lengthwise of the rails and are interrupted by narrow crosswise ribs. 

1. A track assembly for toy and model railroads, said track assembly comprising in combination: an elongate one-piece ballast bed assembly made of plastic and having a top surface including two spaced apart lengthwise parallel grooves extending the length of said ballast bed assembly, and a plurality of lengthwise spaced apart and parallel crosswise grooves intersecting and crossing said lengthwise grooves; an elongate one-piece tie assembly made of plastic and including two spaced apart parallel lengthwise bars and a plurality of spaced apart parallel cross bars joined to said lengthwise bars intersecting and crossing the same, the cross-sectional outlines of said lengthwise bars and said cross bars matching the cross-sectional outlines of said lengthwise grooves and said crosswise grooves, respectively, said tie assembly being fitted in said grooves, the crosswise bars of the tie assembly simulating track ties; fastening means securing the tie assembly to the ballast bed assembly; a pair of rails each having a foot, the upper side of the tie assembly including a plurality of recesses, the foot of each of said rails being form-fitted in said recesses, the bottom side of the foot of each rail including a plurality of grooves, said grooves being filled with plastic material extending from the upper side of the tie assembly into said rail grooves thereby securing the rails to the tie assembly; and mounting means securing said rails to the bars of the tie assembly.
 2. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises clamping means on the rails and the tie assembly in engagement with each other.
 3. The track assembly acCording to claim 2 wherein said clamping means comprises an enlarged foot along the length of each rail and a plurality of pairs of lugs protruding from the tie assembly lengthwise spaced thereon, the two lugs of each of said pairs overlying the foot of one of the rails.
 4. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein the plastic material of the ballast bed assembly is an impact cushioning material.
 5. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said ballast bed assembly has a surface configuration representing a ballast bed formed by a conglomeration of stones.
 6. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tie assembly and the ballast bed assembly are differently colored.
 7. The track assembly according to claim 1 and comprising an impact cushioning layer adhered to the bottom side of the ballast bed assembly.
 8. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rail grooves extend crosswise of the rails.
 9. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rail grooves are slanted with reference to the length of the rails.
 10. The track assembly according to claim 1 wherein said grooves extend lengthwise of the rails and are interrupted by narrow crosswise ribs. 